Patent GB-926641-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to a can body making machine
IPC: B21D51/28
Filed: 1961-06-21
Abstract: 926,641. Making cans; seaming. E. W. BLISS CO. June 19, 1961 [June 22, 1960], No. 22064/61. Classes 83 (2) and 83 (4). A can-making machine comprises a forming horn mounted on a frame for supporting a tubular can body blank, a clamping mechanism adapted to clamp a blank to the horn comprising a reciprocable clamping member operated by a rotatable shaft on which is mounted a cam, a mechanical linkage connecting the cam and the clamping member to reciprocate the latter as the cam rotates and means for adjustably securing and angularly setting the cam on the shaft. The machine comprises a gearcase and housing 12 supporting multiple gears 25 mounted on a shaft 24 and driven by chains 13 over adjustable tensioning sprockets 14. The gear 25 drives gears 29a, 29b attached to shafts 30a, 30b journalled in the intermediate wall 26 of the housing 12 via an idler gear 27 mounted on a shift 28. A known type of forming horn 35 having expandable cheeks 36 and a longitudinal extractor slot 37 is fixed to a member 35a. A pair of wing clamps 38a, 38b pivoted at 39 are operated by connector mechanisms 40 each comprising a headed rod 41 pivoted to the clamp at 42 and slidable through a nut 43 screwed into a sleeve 44 wherein the head 45 of the rod bears against a spring 46. A clamping mechanism 50 comprises a tapered clamp shoe 51 carried by brackets 52 and a spring loaded wedge 53 pivotally connected at 56 to a lever 57 and slidable within the shoe 51. A sleeve 62 on the tube 44 is rotatable on an inner flanged sleeve 63 which is bolted to a crank disc 60. The sleeve is non rotatably located in the T slot 68 in the disc by an extension 69. One end of an adjusting screw 75 (not shown) engages the nut 70 and the other end is secured by a screw in a block attached to the disc 60 to permit adjustment of the throw of the crank mechanism. The disc 60 is clamped to the flange portion 87 of a sleeve 88. Screws 89 pass through the gear 29b and engage a flange 90 of the shaft 30b to which a cam 93 having sockets 94 is clamped by means of an axially adjustable member 95. A cap 97 slidable on the shaft 30b and rotatable in the bushing 91 of the front gear case cover 92 bears against the member 95 and is retained by a screw 98. Timing adjustments of the wing clamps 38a, 38b relative to one another and to other parts of the machine may be carried out by loosening the screws 85 and adjusting the disc 60 relative to the shaft 30b. Holding the cam 93 via the sockets 94 and releasing the screw 98 permits the shaft 30b to be rotated relative to the cam 93 to adjust the clamping mechanism 50. A second crank disc 60 and gear 29a are similarly mounted on the shaft 30a but without a cam corresponding to the cam 93. A cam follower roller 111 rotatably mounted on one end of a lever 112 the other end of which is clamped to a shaft 113 extending through the front of the cover 92 engages a groove 110 of the cam 93. Fitted to the shaft 113 is a collar 114 which is integral with a bifurcated member 115 the prongs of which carry screws 116 and lock nuts 117 which engage a side lug of a swingable lever 119 having a collar 120 to provide means for adjusting its angular position relative to the shaft 113. The forked end of the lever 119 is connected to the link 57 via universal couplings 126, 128 a link 127, a lever 129 and a shaft 130. Operation.-Flat can body blanks suitably notched and slit and with preformed hooks along two opposite edges are fed to the forming horn 35 and clamped to it by the clamping mechanism 50. The mechanism is operated by the rotation of the shaft 30b to which the cam 93 is attached, the cam via its associated mechanical linkages operates the reciprocating wedge 53 against the shoe 51 to produce the clamping action. The wing clamps 38a, 38b actuated by the connector mechanism 40 through the rotation of the disc 60 form the blank around the horn to interlock the hooks prior to the seaming operation. After seaming the clamping devices release the cam body which is then extracted in a known manner.